Advertisement

Western Europe's highest peak Mont Blanc shrinks (again)

The Local France
The Local France - [email protected]
Western Europe's highest peak Mont Blanc shrinks (again)
A mountain sheep stands on rocks on Mont Blanc. Photo: Philippe Desmazes/AFP

Mont Blanc, Western Europe's highest peak, isn't quite as tall as it used to be, according to surveyors who measured the mighty summit.

Advertisement

As of Thursday, the mountain's official height was 4,808.72 metres tall, according to the team of expert surveyors - one centimetre less than its measurement in 2015.

Every two years, surveyors carry out an expedition to measure the mountain, with seven people climbing the mountain and a total of 20 involved in the project altogether, aided by a GPS system and satellites to ensure they get the most accurate figure.

READ ALSO:

This year, strong winds and dense fog added to the challenge, and the team had to carry out their measurements slightly more quickly than usual, to allow ample time for their descent.

The change in Mont Blanc's size over the last two years is relatively small, considering that in the previous two-year period the mountain shrunk by over a metre. Back in 2013, it measured a whopping 4,810.02 metres.

So what's to blame for the fluctuations?

It's all to do with weather variation, and wind and rain both have an impact. Under heavier rains and lighter winds, a higher level of snow builds up, raising the ice cap by some centimetres, while the rock summit itself measures 4,792 metres.

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

See Also